2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR warning

314 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Brake fluid
below min. level!
Visit
workshop!
There is insufficient brake fluid
in the reservoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle as soon as it
is safe to do so and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.
Warning!
G
Driving with this message displayed can re-
sult in an accident. Have your brake system
checked immediately. Do not add brake
fluid before checking the brake system.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can re-
sult in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You
can be seriously burned.

315 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Reduced
brake effect
Start engine!
The battery has insufficient
voltage and cannot supply suffi-
cient power to the SBC brake
system.

Start the engine.
As soon as the engine is running, the message
disappears.
Increased
braking distance
Start engine!
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated.

317 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
2
Brake lining wear!
Visit
workshop!
The brake pads have reached
their wear limit.

Have the brake pads replaced immediately.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet.
Warning!
G
Have brake pad replacement and other work
on the SBC brake system carried out by
qualified technicians only. Contact your
Mercedes-Benz Center for further informa-
tion. The SBC brake system must be deacti-
vated prior to working on the system. High
pressure is intermittently built up in the sys-
tem as part of its automatic self-test. In ad-
dition, the system is automatically activated
when the vehicle is unlocked by remote con-
trol, when the driver or passenger door is
opened, when the SmartKey in the starter
switch is turned to position1, when the
brake pedal is depressed or when the park-
ing brake is released.
Failure to deactivate the system prior to
maintenance will cause brake pistons to ex-
tend and brake fluid to leak, which may re-
sult in injuries (contusions and acid burns),
see “SBC brake system” (
page 84).

319 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
B
Coolant
Check level!
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 249).

If you have to add coolant frequently, have the cooling
system checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately.
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat causing major
engine damage.

320 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off!
The coolant is too hot.

Stop the vehicle and turn off the engine.

Only start the engine again after the message disap-
pears. You could otherwise damage the engine.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which may
have leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can occur just by opening
the hood. Stay away from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
!The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

322 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
Differential
overheated!
The differential oil is too hot.

Stop your vehicle safely immediately.

Do not drive any further.

Wait until the instrument cluster display has cleared.
Otherwise you could damage the rear differential.
!The differential warning should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the sym-
bol displayed could result in serious
rea r di ff e renti al da ma ge that i s not c ov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

330 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
Engine oil pressure
Visit
workshop!
There is no oil in the engine.

Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
There is a danger of engine damage.

Switch off the engine.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately.
!The engine oil level warning should not
be ignored. Extended driving with the
symbol displayed could result in seri-
ous engine damage that is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

331 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure
Caution
tire defect!
The tire inflation pressure in
one or more tires is dropping.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers. Observe the traffic
situation around you.

Temporarily repair tire using TIREFIT (
page 349) or
contact Roadside Assistance. If tire cannot be tempo-
rarily repaired using TIREFIT, contact Roadside Assis-
tance.

Have the damaged wheel repaired or replaced at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!
G
Have worn or damaged tires replaced in
pairs (front pair or rear pair). Otherwise the
driving stability of the vehicle will be ad-
versely affected.